Sunday, July 13, 2008

You are probably familiar with Dogwood trees, but have you met their smaller cousin, Bunchberry Dogwood? The white petal-like sepals look similar in both plants and both are from the genis cornus.The bunchberry dogwood, Cornus unalaschkensis the lives on the west coast is similar to and often confused with the east coast bunchberry, Cornus canadensis. The have four petal-like bracts with small flowers in the center. The fruit is a bunch of red berries, each with 1 pit. They like to grow in the deep duff of moist forests of the mountains. They spread by trailing or ascending stems from rhizomes. Their leaves turn red in winter.

These bunchberry dogwoods were growing by the trail at Lost Lake, Mt. Hood, Oregon, and were photographed July 4.

About Me

I love wildflowers as much as bees to. I spend as much time as possible enjoying them. I'm a full time wife, and homeschool mom. I am also the head cook in our gluten-free, plant-based kitchen. Wildflower photography, garment construction, quilting and watercolor painting are some of the things bring me creative enjoyment, though learning to walk with God is my greatest passion.